Steven Gerrard had no hesitation when naming his ideal four-man England midfield, based solely on players he shared the pitch with during his international career.
The former Liverpool captain, now 44, earned 114 caps for England and played alongside legendary names like Wayne Rooney and Paul Scholes. The ongoing debate about the best midfield combination—often featuring Gerrard, Scholes, and Frank Lampard—continues to divide fans, with no definitive answer.
However, when asked in a 2012 Twitter Q&A to name his dream England midfield quartet (including himself), Gerrard chose a somewhat unexpected lineup.
He confidently selected Manchester United greats David Beckham and Paul Scholes. But instead of opting for Lampard or other prominent midfielders like Michael Carrick or Owen Hargreaves, he chose his former Liverpool teammate Steve McManaman.
Gerrard and McManaman played together when Gerrard first broke into Liverpool’s senior team in the 1998/99 season and also featured together for England. McManaman left Liverpool in 1999 to join Real Madrid, where he enjoyed great success, winning two Champions League titles and two La Liga championships, among other honors.
Gerrard Reflects on His England Career
Despite his individual accomplishments—over 100 appearances and serving as captain—Gerrard’s time with the national team ended in disappointment, as England’s so-called ‘Golden Generation’ failed to progress beyond the quarter-finals of any major tournament.
Reflecting on his international retirement in 2014, Gerrard told England.com:
“I’ve enjoyed playing with everyone—putting on the England shirt is such a special feeling, and that’s what I’ll miss the most.”
He added:
“I won’t miss the hotels or being away from my family, but I will miss that euphoria of representing my country. For a kid from a council estate who only dreamed of playing for England once, to have done it so many times and shared the pitch with those players is amazing.”